September 1

ical order—because he was not only to officiate as a priest, but to rule as a king.

Now let us look after the fact; and we shall see that he never appeared in one of these offices without exemplifying the other. Do we view him when he was more peculiarly the priest? That is, in the days of his flesh, when his whole life seemed a sacrifice, and he died upon the cross? But do we here see the priest only? Does not the king also appear? Did not the wise men from the East come to worship him as born King of the Jews? Did not the winds, and waves, and diseases, and devils, yield him subjection? And when he poured out his soul unto death, did not the sun, and the earth, and the rocks, and the graves adore him? Did he not by a look turn the heart of Peter? Did he not promise the dying thief a place in Paradise with himself? And did he not rise the Lord both of the dead and living? Or do we view him when he seems more peculiarly the king? That is, after he was received up into heaven, and was crowned with glory and honour, and had a name given him above every name? But do we here see the king only? Does not the priest also appear? Did not John see him "clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle?" Did he not see Jesus "in the midst of the throne as a lamb that had been slain?" Did he not hear the songs of the blessed, saying, "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood?" Do not his ministers preach him as crucified? Does not his own supper show forth his death? Yea, says the Apostle, if he were on earth he would not be a priest. There he performed the sacrificial part of the office: but he performs the intercessory and benedictory above, where he ever liveth to make intercession for us, and commands the blessing even life for evermore—Thus he is a Priest upon his throne.

Whence, O my soul! see the nature of our condition since the fall. How necessitous is it; and how various as well as numerous are our wants. We are ignorant and need enlightening; enslaved and need redemption; guilty and need pardon; unholy and need renovation; lost and need all the salvation of the cross and the throne.

—And what a multiplicity of excellences and influences do I behold in the Lord Jesus! "Thou art fairer than the children of men."

SEPTEMBER.

SEPTEMBER 1.—"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."—Luke 4:16.

To a man of reflection, feeling, and piety, it will always be interesting and impressive to come to the place where he had been brought up. How many events will revive, and rush over his mind. It will be well if he be not afflicted with instances of early depravity, and be made to possess the iniquities of his youth. He must be grateful—"Here I was sustained in infancy, and preserved in childhood." Here "the length of my days" made the outgoings

of my mornings and evenings to rejoice. The scenery remains the same, the river, the hills and the vale, the wood and the lawn—but how changed am I in my connexions, prospects, opinions, and feelings—and how many who once knew me, know me no more for ever.

No being ever returned to such a place, and with such sentiments as he who was fairer than the children of men.

What was Nazareth? A small country town among the Zebulanites in Galilee, seventy-two miles north of Jerusalem, and west of mount Tabor. It was so reputeless for achievement and excellency, that when Philip said to Nathaniel, We have found him of whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph; Nathaniel incredulously exclaimed, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth."

But how came he to be brought up in this place? Here indeed he had been conceived of the Holy Ghost: for Mary lived at Nazareth when the angel Gabriel came unto her and said, Hail thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Yet he was born in Bethlehem Judah, according to the prophecy of Micah. "But the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."

And how was he here brought up? The Scripture is little adapted to gratify our curiosity. A veil is thrown over the private life of Jesus which it is impossible to draw aside. Nothing can be more idle and absurd than the Popish legends concerning his infant manners and miracles. "And when he was twelve years old he was found in the temple, in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions; and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers"—"And he said unto Joseph and Mary, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them." "But his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man"—This is all the Holy Ghost has seen fit to communicate concerning the thirty first years of his life. He had no public education; and therefore it was asked by those who could not be ignorant of the fact, "How knoweth this man letters never having learned?" And

as Joseph and Mary were poor, it is not likely that he lived in indolence: nothing is so inconsistent with a Christian life as doing nothing and having nothing to do. His reputed father was a carpenter, and once the name is applied to himself. We are sometimes amazed, considering the brevity of his life, that he should not have entered on his ministry till his thirtieth year. But it was the same with his forerunner John, whose life was yet shorter. God's thoughts are not our thoughts: and we are unable to assign, without presumption, full and precise reasons for any of his dispensations. But surely we may learn that importance and usefulness are not confined to publicity—that we must be willing to be hid as well as displayed—that a great work requires much preparation—and that before we teach we must learn—"not a novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil."

But seeing this was the place where he was brought up, why is it said "and he came to Nazareth?" Because he had been absent. He went to Bethabara, beyond Jordan, to be baptized of John. After this he was forty days and forty nights in the wilderness, tempted of the devil. Then he "returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all." The case was this. Though he was full of courage, he was to deal prudently. He knew that a prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and among his own kindred. Familiarity, if it does not produce contempt, reduces veneration. They who have seen a man in his youth, and mingled with him in common life, are less likely to reverence him as a teacher of religion. It might have been supposed that our Lord would have furnished an exception to this proverb, owing to his wisdom and sanctity—But what to many are wisdom and sanctity—Yea, and divinity too, if unconnected with worldly recommendations? He knew what was in man, and was acquainted with the prejudices of the Nazarenes against him. And therefore he did not begin his public career at home. For a considerable time he visited other parts; till, by his preaching and miracles, he had acquired a renown which would serve favourably to introduce him among his townsmen and relations—Thus he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up—

And what did he there? "He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day." Surely his example has the force of a law to all his followers; especially as we are here informed that it was "his custom" to do this. But do all who wear his name constantly observe "the holy of the Lord," and repair to "the place where his honour dwelleth," for devotion and instruction? Are they not often detained by trifling excuses, which they know, and their domestics know, would keep them from nothing—but the sanctuary? Surely these things are as proper for us as for him; and we need the frequency of them as much as he did—

"And he stood up for to read." Reading the Scriptures was always a part of the synagogue service: and it tended much to maintain the knowledge of Moses and the prophets. It deservedly and commendably occupies a large share of the Liturgy of the Estab-

VOL. II.